THE HERON'S HAUNT. in 



plume, crest, or lappet. Close-fitting, incon- 

 spicuous plumage is their common charac- 

 teristic. «: :-\ ■• •■ ' .-./', .,r-.v 



" On the other hand, those waders which 

 have taken to a thoroughly wading life have 

 consequently developed by natural selection 

 longer legs and necks, and more specially 

 adapted feet and beaks. Some of them are 

 even webfooted, and others boatbilled. 

 These larger, better developed, and more 

 dominant birds are generally distinguished by 

 aesthetic decoration. Wherever a chance 

 variation ran in the direction of heightening 

 and intensifying the natural grace of form 

 which is implied in their specialised wading 

 adaptations, it was seized upon and per- 

 petuated by selective preference. Hardly a 

 single dominant wader is devoid of some 

 marked decorative adjuncts, which set off and 

 interpret the native utilitarian beauty of his 

 slender figure. In many cases, as in that of 

 the ruff (whose name sufficiently describes his 

 ornamental character), these decorated birds 



